Upper Cervical Mobilization Versus Integrated Neuromuscular Inhibition Technique in Patients With Levator Scapulae Syndrome

UPPER CERVICAL MOBILIZATION VERSUS INTEGRATED NEUROMUSCULAR INHIBITION TECHNIQUE IN PATIENTS WITH LEVATOR SCAPULAE SYNDROME

the study will be conducted to answer the following research question: is there a difference between the effect of upper cervical mobilization and integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique of levator scapulae muscle in patients with levator scapulae syndrome?

Neck pain might be usually provoked by TrPs in the upper trapezius and levator scapulae muscles The differentiation in levator scapulae MTrPs prevalence between the right and left sides may also indicate potential asymmetries in muscle use or stress, which could be relevant for diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Integrated treatment approach (INIT) for neck pain provides greater pain relief, reduces disability, improves functional ability, and improves quality of life than other treatments Cervical Spine Mobilization (CSM) by oscillatory movements and traction to the cervical segments helps to break adhesion and stretch the hypo-mobile shortened structures.

There is a gap in the available literature about the comparative effect of upper cervical mobilization and integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique (INIT) of levator scapulae muscle on neck pain, neck disability, range of motion, and cervical proprioception in levator scapulae syndrome.

60 Participants recruited from both genders will be assigned randomly into 3 equal groups Group A : will receive upper cervical mobilization plus conventional treatment .

Group B : will receive integrated neuromuscular technique, It is a technique which combines three methods (Ischemic compression- muscle energy technique- strain counter strain) plus conventional treatment .

Group C : will receive conventional physical therapy only in the form of: (superficial heat using hot pack for 10 minutes ,Isometric Neck Exercises and Dynamic Neck) .

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with a primary complaint of chronic neck pain (assessed by VAS) for more than 3 months.
2. Subjects with pain provocation and reduced mobility at the upper cervical segment (assessed by passive accessory intervertebral movements (PAIVMs) and reduced mobility at cervical spine (assessed by CROM) will be included in the study.
3. Participants will be recruited from both genders with age ranged from 18 to 45 years old, and BMI from 18 to 30kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1) Previous spine surgery 2) Pregnant and breast feeding women 3) Diabetic patients 4) Hypertensive patients 5) Neck pain associated with cervical radiculopathy 6) Whiplash injuries 7) Cervical spine fracture 8) Vertebrobasilar insufficiency. 9) Red flags suggesting of cancer, infection, vascular insufficiency